Quality Engineer

Focus: Supplier, Customer & Technical Drawing Approval
Department: Quality Assurance & Control
Reports to: Quality Manager (Mentor) / General Manager
Succession Pathway: Structured progression toward Senior Quality Engineer and ultimately Quality Manager
Mentorship Period: 12–18 months structured transition
Location: Staffordshire with regular UK and Netherlands inter-site travel
Travel: UK travel plus annual visits to South Korea, China, India and selected worldwide customer locations

About the Business

We are the UK subsidiary of a Swedish business and ultimately part of a large Danish PLC. Focus being within the hydraulic fluid power sector. The business supplies adaptors, manifolds, hose assemblies and precision fittings to leading global OEMs in the off-road equipment market.

We operate across three principal sites (Head Office – Durham, UK Warehouse – Staffordshire, and European/ROTW Warehouse – Huizen, Netherlands) and work closely with joint venture manufacturing partners in South Korea, China and India, as well as sister hose manufacturing facilities in Poland.

Role Purpose

This position is a strategic succession-planning appointment designed to develop the next leader of our quality function.

Over an 18-month structured mentorship period, the Quality Engineer will progressively assume responsibility for:

• Supplier quality management
• Customer quality interface and complaint resolution
• Technical drawing review and production approval
• Product validation and risk mitigation

While operating within our ISO 9001 framework, this role focuses primarily on product and process quality rather than quality-system ownership.

Strong technical engagement with machined components, metallurgy, sealing technology (particularly O-ring applications), and hydraulic performance is central to success in this position. Knowledge of welding processes and their impact on material integrity is advantageous.

Core Responsibilities

1. Supplier Quality Management

We work closely with joint venture manufacturing partners in South Korea, China and India. This requires a collaborative and culturally aware approach that balances technical standards with long-term supplier relationship development.

You will:

• Build and maintain strong supplier relationships (UK and international)
• Support and progressively lead supplier onboarding and qualification
• Conduct and lead supplier audits and technical reviews
• Manage non-conformance investigations and corrective action processes
• Lead cross-functional teams using 8D methodology to resolve customer or internal non-conformances
• Develop the technical proficiency of QA technicians in core applications
• Monitor supplier performance metrics and risk indicators
• Support regulatory and customer compliance reporting including REACH, RoHS, Conflict Minerals, CBAM, PFAS and TSCA

A solid understanding of CNC and multi-spindle machining, material behaviour, tolerances and production capability will be essential when evaluating supplier performance.

2. Production Drawing & Technical Specification Approval

This role carries significant responsibility for ensuring that customer requirements are accurately translated into production-ready documentation.

You will:

• Review and progressively approve supplier production drawings
• Validate tolerances, fits, surface finishes and critical characteristics
• Assess material specifications and metallurgical certifications
• Evaluate sealing interfaces and O-ring groove design considerations
• Collaborate with suppliers to mitigate design-for-manufacture risks
• Support new part introduction and qualification processes

Experience interpreting technical drawings is essential. CAD familiarity (e.g. SolidWorks or AutoCAD) is advantageous.

3. Customer Quality Interface & Technical Support

Developing the capability to represent the quality function directly with OEM customers is a key objective of this role.

You will:

• Liaise directly with customer quality and engineering teams
• Investigate complaints and field failures using structured problem-solving
• Lead corrective and preventive action coordination through the QA team
• Assist in the preparation and review of 8D reports and supporting technical documentation
• Support and later lead customer audits and performance reviews
• Contribute to product documentation and certification packs

Technical credibility — particularly in machining, hydraulics and sealing performance — will be essential when engaging with customer engineering teams.

Structured Development Pathway

Phase 1 – Foundation (Months 0–6)

• On-the-floor training at each warehouse to gain a full understanding of goods-in, storage, picking and despatch processes
• Exposure to cross-departmental activities to learn the entire quotation-to-delivery process. By spending time in Quotation & Sales, Purchasing, and Logistics, an understanding will be gained of how each step impacts overall quality and customer success
• Work closely with the Supplier Quality Team (SQT) to understand the defined interactions between customer and supplier and how these are managed in a timely manner
• Training in the use and navigation of the IFS ERP system to support quality and traceability processes
• Develop a basic understanding of compliance reporting while working with the Compliance Officer
• Assist with incoming inspection and current quality record controls
• Gain detailed knowledge of hydraulic products: adaptors, hoses, manifolds and fittings
• Undertake structured training in hydraulic principles and machining processes
• Support drawing reviews and sample validations
• Participate in supplier audits and ISO audit observations

Phase 2 – Engagement (Months 7–12)

• Apply machining and hydraulic knowledge to real-time quality issues
• Take ownership of selected supplier relationships
• Lead follow-up corrective actions on defined issues
• Contribute to monthly quality reporting for leadership review
• Participate actively in part qualification and technical review meetings

Phase 3 – Transition (Months 13–18)

• Independently lead supplier technical reviews and drawing approvals
• Present supplier performance and risk assessments to the Executive Management Team (EMT)
• Manage and mentor a team of three quality personnel
• Support strategic supplier transitions and new product introduction
• Work alongside systems management to maintain ISO compliance

Required Skills & Experience

Essential

• Experience in supplier quality, production engineering or drawing validation
• Strong understanding of machining processes (CNC and multi-spindle preferred)
• Ability to interpret and validate technical drawings
• Working knowledge of metallurgy and material behaviour
• Experience working within ISO 9001 environments
• Full knowledge and interpretation of PPAP 4th Edition (Production Part Approval Process), including the ability to critique submissions and, where required, provide guidance or training to suppliers in their completion and execution
• Structured problem-solving capability (8D, RCA, FMEA)
• Strong communication skills with suppliers and customers

Desirable

• Knowledge of hydraulic systems and sealing technology (O-rings)
• Knowledge of electrolytic coatings and corrosion protection
• Exposure to international supplier audits
• Understanding of welding techniques and material implications
• Familiarity with ISO 14001 / ISO 45001
• Lean or Six Sigma training
• 5S training

Personal Attributes

• Analytical and technically rigorous
• Commercially aware and relationship-focused
• Calm, confident communicator
• Strong technical aptitude and a commitment to mastering the complex engineering and operational processes that drive our business
• Self-driven with clear leadership ambition
• Willing to travel internationally

Succession Commitment

This role forms part of a defined succession strategy.

The successful candidate will follow a staged progression route:

Quality Engineer → Senior Quality Engineer → Quality Manager

The current Quality Manager will provide structured mentorship and a phased transfer of responsibility over 18 months. Progression milestones will be formally reviewed to ensure alignment with both business needs and individual capability development.

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